Bvlgari Aqva

In the genre of aquatics, Bvlgari Aqva is a horse of a different color.

I am tempted almost to classify it as an oriental due to how thick it is. This is the most robust aquatic scent I've smelled. Perhaps more fitting as an evening scent, though I used to wear Aqva during the day as girls gave me compliments.

My problem with it is that it is too much. Too crowded. Aqva has intense marine notes against floral and fruity notes and spicy pepper notes and an amber/sage base. The marine is very interesting - it is salty and sour, the way these kinds of scents SHOULD smell. But some days I love the way the notes work with the floral and base notes, and other days I hate it.

Aqva, interestingly, is a moody fragrance. Most aquatics are light and fresh - this is somewhat fresh but a dark character. It is well suited to rainy days in summer, especially in Japan. But you could wear it anytime. As far as its babe-factor, all of my girl friends love it. It stands to reason, I suppose, given the Twilight Edward Cullen obsession.

Bvlgari Aqva's staying power is solid. Lasts a good 6 to 8 hours.

It can be found cheap at online retailers, which is another plus.

If I had to relate it to a song, it'd be Chopin's Ocean Etude in the video above. Throw this on your ipod and take a walk on a rainy midnight, wearing three good sprays of Aqva and perhaps a peacoat. Listen, breathe, experience the beautiful surreal effect.

Neil Morris - Midnight Sea

Notes courtesy of neilmorrisfragrances.com - Water lily, vanilla, patchouli, dark musk, ozone

This is a very evocative scent. It doesn't exactly smell like the sea at night, but it is somehow reminiscent of it. Neil got that salty sea scent down.

Midnight Sea is very patchouli heavy and that is one of my criticisms of it. It dominates the scent throughout all of its life. This is interesting in the beginning, but gets old at the end - especially as the fragrance loses the lovely salty quality it had in the beginning. (my other criticism)

The fragrance's sillage and longevity are paramount. Not even A*Men can compare. This is a good thing. Recommended for the sample fiends like myself out there!

For an especially transportive experience, throw Chopin's "Ocean Etude" on your ipod and go for a walk at midnight while wearing this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFNW_ZDlFW4